The Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA) has sounded an alarm that many poaching incidents are going unreported in the country. Recently, the ROP had arrested six persons for poaching ten Arabian gazelles in the Saih al Ala area of Jalan Bani Bu Ali, and another two were arrested for poaching two Arabian gazelles in Al Saleel National Park in Al Kamil Wal Wafi area in May. Though these incidents might appear to be stray ones, an MECA official said that there are many attempted poaching incidents and many go without being reported. “Poaching has become a big problem for us because the use of modern technology, both in terms of firearms and vehicles, and this has provided courage to a few to kill rare wildlife discriminately,” said Ali al Kiyumi, director general, Nature Conservation, MECA. Kiyumi said that his department has region wise statistics on all poaching-related incidents, but it cannot be shared.

“Hunting was a way of living in olden times but it was carried out in a sustainable manner. But today, with new technology, poachers are wiping out populations of rare animals. The harsh environment of our country also makes it difficult for sustaining a healthy wildlife.”

He added that quite often offenders go scot-free as rangers fail to catch them. More....